Timeout with Corinne Burke
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Some people seem born to do certain things. For example, Corinne Burke was destined to be a point guard.
Burke, now a senior on the Lake Stevens High School girls basketball team, started playing hoops when she was a first-grader, and by fifth grade she was playing year-round. Before ever seeing Burke play, her first select team coach told her, “You’re going to be our point guard.”
What exactly did the coach see?
“It’s a personality thing, I guess,” Burke said. “You can recognize people if they’re a point guard.”
“You need to be outgoing,” the 5-foot-5 team co-captain added. “I’m a talker — I love it. It’s just super fun to be able to help direct things on the court. I always try to make sure everybody knows what’s going on. It’s my job to be that person to make sure that everyone knows what we’re doing on defense and offense.”
Burke, a fourth-year varsity team member and third-year starter, helped Lake Stevens (19-3) beat Jackson 54-45 on Saturday in the Class 4A District 1 tournament semifinals. With the win, Burke and her close-knit team advanced to the district championship and qualified for the state regional.
Coach’s corner
In addition to being a tremendous asset because of her ability to pass the ball up the floor and ignite fast breaks, Burke is “a great teammate” who the Vikings can rely on in any situation, Lake Stevens coach Randall Edens said: “She certainly leads by example on and off the floor.”
Hooked on hoops
Although Burke tried all sorts of sports (including soccer and softball) when she was younger, nothing was as enjoyable as playing hoops. “All of those other things got kind of boring, but basketball stuck with me and I was like, ‘Oh, this is interesting.’” A special bonus: Burke’s older sister, Chantelle, also played basketball and the siblings bonded on the court.
Helping others
Burke’s favorite school subject is math and she’s currently taking calculus, but she believes her future is in the medical field. She aspires to be a nurse practitioner. “I love helping people,” Burke said. “At first, I wanted to be a veterinarian but I changed my mind.”
She was influenced by her mom, who is a medical assistant. “I’ve just seen what she’s done and it’s a blessing to be able to help people,” said Burke.
Raise your Voice
At Lake Stevens High, Burke helps runs One Voice, a Christian student group. She is heavily involved in church every weekend and used to sing with her sister on stage during services.
Cruising
Burke recently took a cruise to the western coast of Mexico. It was her first trip outside the U.S. and Canada. “It was super fun,” she said of Mexico. “The beaches there are amazing!”
Make a difference
Asked to share a piece of helpful advice, Burke said: “Just try to make an impact every day, whether it’s basketball or anything. Make a positive impact.”
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
